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In Search of Heer
‘This beautifully narrated book is a shining example of how an author’s imagination can make a reader look at an age-old and seemingly inviolable rendition in a new way.’- Huffington Post
LISTED FOR MULTIPLE LITERARY PRIZES IN INDIA, INCLUDING THE JCB PRIZE 2020, THE MATRUBHUMI BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020, AND THE TIMES OF INDIA WOMEN AUTHOR AWARD 2020.In the village of Takht Hazara, the musically gifted Deedho Ranjha struggles against family and society. He rejects the pursuit of wealth and power as the measure of a man’s worth. In distant Jhang, the spirited Heer Syal is an accomplished warrior who fearlessly challenges the norms of her community. Heer and Ranjha are destined to meet and fall in love—the former chastised for her ‘manly’ pursuits and the latter ridiculed for his lack thereof. Told from multiple perspectives, set against the lush riverbanks, and rugged countryside of West Punjab, this is a wise, passionate, and lyrical retelling of one of the Indian subcontinent’s most beloved epics.What Readers Are “It is a magnificent piece of work - written beautifully and there is something deeply humane about the ideas in the book. So contemporary in its relevance, so full of themes that give meaning and joy to life. Written with a unique modern sensibility, Manjul Bajaj reworks an epic love story in such a fine way. She makes the love between men and women such a beautiful experience.”Amazon Reader Review“…such a refreshing, empowered and empowering love-story. After years, here is a book that I have fully delighted in... The landscape of western Punjab itself is a strong presence in this very rooted in the land story, and I love writing which is so much about setting and its various shades, the language is beautiful, and the style very earthy, wise and fable like.”Amazon Reader Review“Manjul Bajaj’s re-imagination of the Heer Ranjha story is lush in ts lyrical beauty, deeply philosophical in it’s questioning of love and society’s restraints, almost spiritual in its quest of a harmonious social order and a strong call for female agency, friendships and solidarity. Every single character – human, animal, bird plays an integral part in the overall story that unfolds bit by bit taking the narrative to both a reader’s heart and mind.”Review on Goodreads“It was astonishing for me how the book could be both so rustic and true to its context and modern at the same time.”Review on Goodreads“The original Heer Ranjha story is a ballad and Bajaj has successfully managed to infuse the music in her lyrical writing as well. She invokes music everywhere in the book, be it in the description of the landscapes, the way she describes nature and emotions.”Review on Goodreads“Stories packed into one story, flowing seamlessly, relentlessly on. Referencing mainly Waris Shah`s poetic rendition of Heer`s story, Bajaj layers it with contemporary pertinence. Heer is undoubtedly a feminist, a fiery feminist at that. Ranjha is no foolhardy desperate lover here, he`s a sensitive, deeply caring one. Heer`s paedophile uncle is an unforgettable character in this book; the reader winces and keeps wincing but cannot stop reading.”Review on Goodreads“This isn't just a mythical tale. It is contemporary with a ferocious feminist protagonist Heer.
LISTED FOR MULTIPLE LITERARY PRIZES IN INDIA, INCLUDING THE JCB PRIZE 2020, THE MATRUBHUMI BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020, AND THE TIMES OF INDIA WOMEN AUTHOR AWARD 2020.In the village of Takht Hazara, the musically gifted Deedho Ranjha struggles against family and society. He rejects the pursuit of wealth and power as the measure of a man’s worth. In distant Jhang, the spirited Heer Syal is an accomplished warrior who fearlessly challenges the norms of her community. Heer and Ranjha are destined to meet and fall in love—the former chastised for her ‘manly’ pursuits and the latter ridiculed for his lack thereof. Told from multiple perspectives, set against the lush riverbanks, and rugged countryside of West Punjab, this is a wise, passionate, and lyrical retelling of one of the Indian subcontinent’s most beloved epics.What Readers Are “It is a magnificent piece of work - written beautifully and there is something deeply humane about the ideas in the book. So contemporary in its relevance, so full of themes that give meaning and joy to life. Written with a unique modern sensibility, Manjul Bajaj reworks an epic love story in such a fine way. She makes the love between men and women such a beautiful experience.”Amazon Reader Review“…such a refreshing, empowered and empowering love-story. After years, here is a book that I have fully delighted in... The landscape of western Punjab itself is a strong presence in this very rooted in the land story, and I love writing which is so much about setting and its various shades, the language is beautiful, and the style very earthy, wise and fable like.”Amazon Reader Review“Manjul Bajaj’s re-imagination of the Heer Ranjha story is lush in ts lyrical beauty, deeply philosophical in it’s questioning of love and society’s restraints, almost spiritual in its quest of a harmonious social order and a strong call for female agency, friendships and solidarity. Every single character – human, animal, bird plays an integral part in the overall story that unfolds bit by bit taking the narrative to both a reader’s heart and mind.”Review on Goodreads“It was astonishing for me how the book could be both so rustic and true to its context and modern at the same time.”Review on Goodreads“The original Heer Ranjha story is a ballad and Bajaj has successfully managed to infuse the music in her lyrical writing as well. She invokes music everywhere in the book, be it in the description of the landscapes, the way she describes nature and emotions.”Review on Goodreads“Stories packed into one story, flowing seamlessly, relentlessly on. Referencing mainly Waris Shah`s poetic rendition of Heer`s story, Bajaj layers it with contemporary pertinence. Heer is undoubtedly a feminist, a fiery feminist at that. Ranjha is no foolhardy desperate lover here, he`s a sensitive, deeply caring one. Heer`s paedophile uncle is an unforgettable character in this book; the reader winces and keeps wincing but cannot stop reading.”Review on Goodreads“This isn't just a mythical tale. It is contemporary with a ferocious feminist protagonist Heer.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2019
44 people are currently reading
684 people want to read
About the author
Manjul Bajaj
12 books124 followersManjul Bajaj is a writer from India. She graduated in Economics from Delhi University and then did a Masters in Rural Management and another in Environmental Science. For much of her adult life she worked in the field of rural development. India's seemingly sleepy villages, its seething beneath the surface small towns, the wisdom and courage of ordinary people living unimaginably difficult lives, the diversity, the complexity, the sheer depth of the Indian subcontinent's many traditions, rituals, philosophies and ways of life, its music, literature, crafts and performing arts, its varied languages - all of these fascinate her, as do the many conflicts and contradictions that arise as the country grows and modernizes. Through her fiction she attempts to explore and understand the beauty and confusion of India, and what being a modern person belonging to this very ancient civilization and culture entails.
She lives in Goa with her husband.
She lives in Goa with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 83 reviews
June 21, 2021
3.5 stars
The book started off very strongly for me. The writing for very different and I absolutely loved it as well. But the later 50% was just overdump of information for me I felt. So I did not like it that much. The ending chapters were pretty good.
The book started off very strongly for me. The writing for very different and I absolutely loved it as well. But the later 50% was just overdump of information for me I felt. So I did not like it that much. The ending chapters were pretty good.
September 16, 2020
We’ve all heard of the love stories of old. We’ve heard of the story of Romeo and Juliet, of course and somewhere I had heard of the story of Heer and Ranjha - but never really fully dwelled into it. I thought it would be one and the same - boy meets girl, falls in love, someone is against it, they tragically die together. While most of this is true for the story of Heer and Ranjha, ‘In Search of Heer’ makes it a story worth listening (especially for us feminists).
As I said, the plot is essentially the same, but it’s so much more than that. Heer is raised to be a feminist queen! She’s raised to stand up for herself, stand up for equal opportunities and call things out for what it is. Ranjha is the youngest son of a landowner who wants to play music, revels in beauty and doesn’t like violence. They meet, they fall in love and the rest is history. Of course, Heer is promised to someone else and Ranjha is ‘not good enough’ for her according to her conniving uncle (who gave me the creeps). But they persevere. Their love made them grow into better individuals and it almost felt like ‘with the joining of their souls’, they imparted parts of themselves to each other.
I love that about this story. The rejection of gender norms made me want to cheer. I loved that their relationship was very sex positive and showed us what it was like to be a woman and a man in a relationship - but with no fixed roles. I liked that the narration was done from various different perspectives - from Heer, Ranjha, the Uncle and even crows, goats and pigeons. I know, strange.
The only thing which I didn’t like was the ‘insta-love’y bit of the book - which is part of the original story written in the 18th century - so not going to hold that against the author, but the whole ‘soulmate’ bit got me a little *puke emoji*. But that’s just me.
The writing was very easy to read and full of wonderful passages that I outlined. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a fresh breath of air and just a nice good book. 4 stars from me.
Thank you to the publishers for gifting me this copy. Also, this book is nominated for @thejcbprize and I hope more people will read it.
As I said, the plot is essentially the same, but it’s so much more than that. Heer is raised to be a feminist queen! She’s raised to stand up for herself, stand up for equal opportunities and call things out for what it is. Ranjha is the youngest son of a landowner who wants to play music, revels in beauty and doesn’t like violence. They meet, they fall in love and the rest is history. Of course, Heer is promised to someone else and Ranjha is ‘not good enough’ for her according to her conniving uncle (who gave me the creeps). But they persevere. Their love made them grow into better individuals and it almost felt like ‘with the joining of their souls’, they imparted parts of themselves to each other.
I love that about this story. The rejection of gender norms made me want to cheer. I loved that their relationship was very sex positive and showed us what it was like to be a woman and a man in a relationship - but with no fixed roles. I liked that the narration was done from various different perspectives - from Heer, Ranjha, the Uncle and even crows, goats and pigeons. I know, strange.
The only thing which I didn’t like was the ‘insta-love’y bit of the book - which is part of the original story written in the 18th century - so not going to hold that against the author, but the whole ‘soulmate’ bit got me a little *puke emoji*. But that’s just me.
The writing was very easy to read and full of wonderful passages that I outlined. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a fresh breath of air and just a nice good book. 4 stars from me.
Thank you to the publishers for gifting me this copy. Also, this book is nominated for @thejcbprize and I hope more people will read it.
September 6, 2020
Reading books from the #jcblonglist has been my tradition from the last 2 years. In 2018 coincidentally the ones I had read where chosen for the shortlist and 2019 I read the whole of the longlist.
.
In search of heer by Manjula Bajaj was my first pick for this year as it was readily available in Kindle Unlimited
.
When I started reading this book I didn't know it was a retelling of Heer - Ranjha.Only when I was past the first chapter I realised that. For those who don't know, I would say that love story of Heer - Ranjha is the equivalent Romeo - Juliet. Why do immortal love stories have to be so tragic?
.
The prose was simply beautiful, I'm not a person who loves reading descriptions but the author certainly transported me to places. I loved how we had unique narrators like the crow, pigeon and goat along the main characters. Heer & Ranjha do not conform to societal norms. Heer, who is supposed to meek & obedient as she is a woman, is in reality outspoken and courageous. Ranjha, who is supposed to love war & own land , is a peace loving nomad.
.
I was fascinated by Heer, I loved how she questioned the place of woman in the world. Another person I loved was Heer's father, he lets Heer be herself and doesn't try to cage her. I loved the parts where Ranjha realizes, that he too is influenced by society's patriachal rules and corrects himself.
I hated Kaido(Heer's uncle) with all my heart, the parts where the pigeon was the narrator were very hard to read.
.
Trigger warning :Rape, child abuse
.
4.5 stars
.
.
In search of heer by Manjula Bajaj was my first pick for this year as it was readily available in Kindle Unlimited
.
When I started reading this book I didn't know it was a retelling of Heer - Ranjha.Only when I was past the first chapter I realised that. For those who don't know, I would say that love story of Heer - Ranjha is the equivalent Romeo - Juliet. Why do immortal love stories have to be so tragic?
.
The prose was simply beautiful, I'm not a person who loves reading descriptions but the author certainly transported me to places. I loved how we had unique narrators like the crow, pigeon and goat along the main characters. Heer & Ranjha do not conform to societal norms. Heer, who is supposed to meek & obedient as she is a woman, is in reality outspoken and courageous. Ranjha, who is supposed to love war & own land , is a peace loving nomad.
.
I was fascinated by Heer, I loved how she questioned the place of woman in the world. Another person I loved was Heer's father, he lets Heer be herself and doesn't try to cage her. I loved the parts where Ranjha realizes, that he too is influenced by society's patriachal rules and corrects himself.
I hated Kaido(Heer's uncle) with all my heart, the parts where the pigeon was the narrator were very hard to read.
.
Trigger warning :Rape, child abuse
.
4.5 stars
.
October 5, 2020
"That we lovers come, we love briefly and die, only our tragedies remain for people to gather around the fireside and weep over so that they can mourn the parts of themselves they have allowed to be killed and buried unfulfilled?"
-Manjul Bajaj, In search of Heer.
I am still reeling from the after effects of this book. I finished it last night and couldn't get it out of my head. So here's my review/lazy chain of thoughts. I love books which make me forget the world and take me into its folds and leave with a sense of calm.
"In search of Heer" is a beautiful retelling of the classic love story of Heer and Ranjha. The story was first written by Damodar Gulati, while Waris Shah's rendition written in 1766 is the most popular one. There are many films and songs made about Heer and Ranjha's romance. Their story might be embedded in some folk songs as well.
Manjul Bajaj's retelling won my heart. She brought to life the various layers and nuances of the story. The book opens with a map of undivided Punjab. The major locations where the story takes place, Tilla Jogian, Jhang, Takht Hazara and Rangpur are now in Pakistan. The story is divided into ten parts with thirty chapters and is told through six point of views. While Ranjha narrates the story for most part, a goat, a crow and a pigeon also narrate the story and I thought that made the story even more unique. It gave the story a folk tale feel of animals narrating stories. I loved the fresh perspective it brought with the animals narrating the story. I chuckled at their observations and satirical comments they made on us humans.
The original Heer Ranjha story is a ballad and Bajaj has successfully managed to infuse the music in her lyrical writing as well. She invokes music everywhere in the book, be it in the description of the landscapes, the way she describes nature and emotions.
There isn't a single moment in the book where we begin to get bored or the story seems to drag. I told you it fully engulfs you in it.
Coming to the characterization, I loved the way each and every character was written. I loved Heer more than Ranjha. She is an inspiration. Challenging the society, not afraid to speak her mind, the way she fought for women's rights, she was incredible!!
I loved reading the parts where Bajaj subtle comments on women who encouraged patriarchy unknowingly. Be it Heer's mother Malki, or Seida's mother silently suffering, never questioning the system, shows how important it is to question things and break the cycle.
The story was full of symbolism. I for one, loved the symbolism of the burnt pigeons in Kaido Langra's courtyard. I also applaud the female friendships in the book, we need more of such stories in books. The father figures in the book, are an inspiration, Heer's father, Mir Chuchak and Ranjha's father, Mauju Chowdhary. They let their children be and didn't clip their wings and didn't put them under the typical gender norms as society expects.
Kaido Langra was a character I detested the most. He was a cripple not only physically but mentally too.
"In search of Heer" is a remarkable read and one which I highly recommend. It's extremely well written and unpretentious. You get lost in the poetic beauty of the story, in Ranjha's music and Heer's determination.
4.5⭐
-Manjul Bajaj, In search of Heer.
I am still reeling from the after effects of this book. I finished it last night and couldn't get it out of my head. So here's my review/lazy chain of thoughts. I love books which make me forget the world and take me into its folds and leave with a sense of calm.
"In search of Heer" is a beautiful retelling of the classic love story of Heer and Ranjha. The story was first written by Damodar Gulati, while Waris Shah's rendition written in 1766 is the most popular one. There are many films and songs made about Heer and Ranjha's romance. Their story might be embedded in some folk songs as well.
Manjul Bajaj's retelling won my heart. She brought to life the various layers and nuances of the story. The book opens with a map of undivided Punjab. The major locations where the story takes place, Tilla Jogian, Jhang, Takht Hazara and Rangpur are now in Pakistan. The story is divided into ten parts with thirty chapters and is told through six point of views. While Ranjha narrates the story for most part, a goat, a crow and a pigeon also narrate the story and I thought that made the story even more unique. It gave the story a folk tale feel of animals narrating stories. I loved the fresh perspective it brought with the animals narrating the story. I chuckled at their observations and satirical comments they made on us humans.
The original Heer Ranjha story is a ballad and Bajaj has successfully managed to infuse the music in her lyrical writing as well. She invokes music everywhere in the book, be it in the description of the landscapes, the way she describes nature and emotions.
There isn't a single moment in the book where we begin to get bored or the story seems to drag. I told you it fully engulfs you in it.
Coming to the characterization, I loved the way each and every character was written. I loved Heer more than Ranjha. She is an inspiration. Challenging the society, not afraid to speak her mind, the way she fought for women's rights, she was incredible!!
I loved reading the parts where Bajaj subtle comments on women who encouraged patriarchy unknowingly. Be it Heer's mother Malki, or Seida's mother silently suffering, never questioning the system, shows how important it is to question things and break the cycle.
The story was full of symbolism. I for one, loved the symbolism of the burnt pigeons in Kaido Langra's courtyard. I also applaud the female friendships in the book, we need more of such stories in books. The father figures in the book, are an inspiration, Heer's father, Mir Chuchak and Ranjha's father, Mauju Chowdhary. They let their children be and didn't clip their wings and didn't put them under the typical gender norms as society expects.
Kaido Langra was a character I detested the most. He was a cripple not only physically but mentally too.
"In search of Heer" is a remarkable read and one which I highly recommend. It's extremely well written and unpretentious. You get lost in the poetic beauty of the story, in Ranjha's music and Heer's determination.
4.5⭐
December 28, 2020
A tale as old as time, Heer Ranjha is a tragic romance story. Two lovers who could not live together chose to die together. This isn't a spoiler for this book. It is what happens in the popular versions of the love story.
In Search of Heer is a dramatic and poetic retelling of Heer Ranjha, the popular folk love story from parts of Punjab that are now in Pakistan. The book is divided into ten parts, some of which are narrated by Heer and Ranjha. The others are narrated by a crow, a pigeon, and a goat, all silent witnesses to the lovers' story. It has all the makings of a typical tragic romance - declarations of undying love, hostility from the world, secret champions trying to bring peace, and the eternal question of will-they-won't-they looming over. The language is lyrical- the eternal romance kinds, with a hint of magical realism.
One thing that distinctly stood out for me in this rendition was its fiercely feminist tone. This book has many aspects to it, and feminism is a central one. To be honest, this book's Ranjha paled so hard in comparison to the glorious Heer. Seriously, at some point, he is on a journey to become a monk that I absolutely did not care for. I wanted more of Heer. I was in search of her. (get it?) Heer is undoubtedly beautiful, but that's not all that she is. She was raised to live life on her own terms by a supportive father. She is seen horse-riding, sword-fighting, standing up for others, and just being a total badass! The book speaks up against patriarchy almost constantly. Sometimes, through Heer's glorious acts of rebellion. Sometimes, through the silent realizations that everyday inequality is society's way of keeping women away from opportunities that elevate their social or financial standing. Apart from Heer, the book has other strong women characters. Her group of cousins/friends, her sister-in-law Sehti, even her mother-in-law, are all characters for whom I was rooting. The women in the story breaking the conventional social norms of those times is what I longed for.
Longing. Just like life, this book has a lot of it! And just like life, hopefully, it does not turn out to be all bad in the end? Maybe it actually depends on what your definition of bad is.
Or maybe, it depends on how much you choose to believe in hope or love? Are those even mutually exclusive? I don't think so.
In Search of Heer is a dramatic and poetic retelling of Heer Ranjha, the popular folk love story from parts of Punjab that are now in Pakistan. The book is divided into ten parts, some of which are narrated by Heer and Ranjha. The others are narrated by a crow, a pigeon, and a goat, all silent witnesses to the lovers' story. It has all the makings of a typical tragic romance - declarations of undying love, hostility from the world, secret champions trying to bring peace, and the eternal question of will-they-won't-they looming over. The language is lyrical- the eternal romance kinds, with a hint of magical realism.
One thing that distinctly stood out for me in this rendition was its fiercely feminist tone. This book has many aspects to it, and feminism is a central one. To be honest, this book's Ranjha paled so hard in comparison to the glorious Heer. Seriously, at some point, he is on a journey to become a monk that I absolutely did not care for. I wanted more of Heer. I was in search of her. (get it?) Heer is undoubtedly beautiful, but that's not all that she is. She was raised to live life on her own terms by a supportive father. She is seen horse-riding, sword-fighting, standing up for others, and just being a total badass! The book speaks up against patriarchy almost constantly. Sometimes, through Heer's glorious acts of rebellion. Sometimes, through the silent realizations that everyday inequality is society's way of keeping women away from opportunities that elevate their social or financial standing. Apart from Heer, the book has other strong women characters. Her group of cousins/friends, her sister-in-law Sehti, even her mother-in-law, are all characters for whom I was rooting. The women in the story breaking the conventional social norms of those times is what I longed for.
Longing. Just like life, this book has a lot of it! And just like life, hopefully, it does not turn out to be all bad in the end? Maybe it actually depends on what your definition of bad is.
Or maybe, it depends on how much you choose to believe in hope or love? Are those even mutually exclusive? I don't think so.
September 17, 2020
While reading some books a wierd feeling enters your heart, pins at a corner not to part ways although it is equally enamouring & unputdownable. Because we relish it's intrudence into our pauses of our daily routine occupying lion share of our thoughts. I had the exact feeling while reading this book. As I'm not that much aware of Heer-Ranjha tragic story, I was fascinated with every leg of this retelling journey by the author savouring & devouring everything that came my way.
~~~
The book is set in the womb of 'land of five rivers'-Punjab which is under the gracious blessings of divine Panj Pir. Precisely it is the story of fierce & unrelenting Heer and calm & poised Ranjha. Ranjha, son of rich landlord after his beloved father's death abandoned by his vicious family sets his journey from Takt Hazara in search of his love - Heer. Heer is a doting daughter of Mir Chuchak, chieftain of Jhang Syal. Right from her childhood, she never frets to question about her limitations as a girl & doesn't adhere to age old societal restrictions rooted in the society.
~~~
All I could say rest is only about the author Manjul Bajaj. How beautifully she has written! Like a swaying tassel embroidered to a hanging tapestry! Her syntillating & dextrous prose urges & lures us to read more. The author has intendeded to blur the lines and cross the seams by juxtaposing gender & religion. One would observe this from the characteristics of Heer & Ranjha. Heer has valour & courage to ward off social evils where as Ranjha pleases with serene flood of notes undulating from his flute. Also impressions of Lord Krishna could be seen in Ranjha being a cowherd with flute & attracting with his music.
~~~
The book would have been monotonous if it was told only from either of Heer's or Ranjha's perspective; it shines here with animals' & birds' narratives which has satirical stincts on human ways of living. The pigeon's take on biased treatment & patriarchy strikes the right chord. The chasms of main stream story telling is ornated with poetic & discrete descriptions which makes us to delve into the book from year to heal. The text is enhanced with many facts on love , life , chauvinism, pride & prejudices drawing a few revelating & many realising nods from the readers. Though I'm not that much into both the genres- romance and retelling I loved totally reading this book for all the charm it is embodied with.
~~~
The book is set in the womb of 'land of five rivers'-Punjab which is under the gracious blessings of divine Panj Pir. Precisely it is the story of fierce & unrelenting Heer and calm & poised Ranjha. Ranjha, son of rich landlord after his beloved father's death abandoned by his vicious family sets his journey from Takt Hazara in search of his love - Heer. Heer is a doting daughter of Mir Chuchak, chieftain of Jhang Syal. Right from her childhood, she never frets to question about her limitations as a girl & doesn't adhere to age old societal restrictions rooted in the society.
~~~
All I could say rest is only about the author Manjul Bajaj. How beautifully she has written! Like a swaying tassel embroidered to a hanging tapestry! Her syntillating & dextrous prose urges & lures us to read more. The author has intendeded to blur the lines and cross the seams by juxtaposing gender & religion. One would observe this from the characteristics of Heer & Ranjha. Heer has valour & courage to ward off social evils where as Ranjha pleases with serene flood of notes undulating from his flute. Also impressions of Lord Krishna could be seen in Ranjha being a cowherd with flute & attracting with his music.
~~~
The book would have been monotonous if it was told only from either of Heer's or Ranjha's perspective; it shines here with animals' & birds' narratives which has satirical stincts on human ways of living. The pigeon's take on biased treatment & patriarchy strikes the right chord. The chasms of main stream story telling is ornated with poetic & discrete descriptions which makes us to delve into the book from year to heal. The text is enhanced with many facts on love , life , chauvinism, pride & prejudices drawing a few revelating & many realising nods from the readers. Though I'm not that much into both the genres- romance and retelling I loved totally reading this book for all the charm it is embodied with.
September 14, 2020
Manjul Bajaj’s re-imagination of the Heer Ranjha story is lush inits lyrical beauty, deeply philosophical in it’s questioning of love and society’s restraints, almost spiritual in its quest of a harmonious social order and a strong call for female agency, friendships and solidarity. Every single character – human, animal, bird plays an integral part in the overall story that unfolds bit by bit taking the narrative to both a reader’s heart and mind.
The writing is evocative of the moods of idealistic youth and wilfulness, the first forays of recognizing one’s self and then the unease at the discovery of a larger world that is unbending with its various conventions and rules. Ranjha is almost a fakir in his approach to life, one who cannot be shackled with material acquisitions but Heer he wants as his bride because she is the most beautiful woman. Heer on her part is quick to question,to stand up for her beliefs and to call out for justice. The dreams that Heer and Ranjha have are made utopian by the moral codes of society and through the evil machinations of Kaido Langra whose depravity is revealed by the pigeons he rears. Kaido is not the only villain for this is no story that uses the hero, heroine and villain trope. Rather, he epitomises the double face of society when it comes to women: the moral vanguard, the pretender underneath whom lurks the fear of what women can get away with. The author places the agency of women and their lack at the center of the book but does not leave even a single female character wringing her hands in helplessness.
There is poetry, there isa sense of the time, the sights and smell of the story we have all heard but to discover its many nuances at the deft hands of an author who leaves you with myriad thoughts to think over and reflect!
The writing is evocative of the moods of idealistic youth and wilfulness, the first forays of recognizing one’s self and then the unease at the discovery of a larger world that is unbending with its various conventions and rules. Ranjha is almost a fakir in his approach to life, one who cannot be shackled with material acquisitions but Heer he wants as his bride because she is the most beautiful woman. Heer on her part is quick to question,to stand up for her beliefs and to call out for justice. The dreams that Heer and Ranjha have are made utopian by the moral codes of society and through the evil machinations of Kaido Langra whose depravity is revealed by the pigeons he rears. Kaido is not the only villain for this is no story that uses the hero, heroine and villain trope. Rather, he epitomises the double face of society when it comes to women: the moral vanguard, the pretender underneath whom lurks the fear of what women can get away with. The author places the agency of women and their lack at the center of the book but does not leave even a single female character wringing her hands in helplessness.
There is poetry, there isa sense of the time, the sights and smell of the story we have all heard but to discover its many nuances at the deft hands of an author who leaves you with myriad thoughts to think over and reflect!
September 7, 2020
"That we lovers come, we love briefly and die, only our tragedies remain for people to gather around the fireside and weep over so that they can mourn the parts of themselves they have allowed to be killed and buried unfilled?"- Manjul Bajaj, In search of Heer
Thanks to JCB Prize for literature that I discovered this brilliant book and devoured it in one night. On the periphery In search of Heer is a story of unrelenting love which is almost spiritual in nature and yet has to fight against the restraints of society and familial pressure. However, I feel the layers which the author has added to this historical retelling makes this a much broader tale of freedom and the tryst for it. It showcases how each human being irrespective of gender when starts to behave as truly free unbound by the dictates of society there is fierce resistance to quash their soul. A retelling of Waris Shah's poem on Heer Ranjha and Damodar Gulati's version the author through her rich imagination has almost made it contemporary where we can still relate to the events. Based on the epic historical story of Heer Syal and Deedho Ranjha and their love in Western Punjab (now Pakistan) the story is narrated by multiple narrator's where only Heer and Ranjha are the human narrator's the other narrator's being a crow, pigeon, goat and camel. With poetic prose and a non-human narration one gets a brilliant commentary on humans and how we might be one of the most destructive and greedy and darkest species in the creation. This unadulterated observation of birds and animals on the follies of humans gives you an overview which while it makes you uncomfortable you will nod your head in agreement. Here is a feminist who shakes the clutches of patriarchy in her family and society and we see how patriarchy ( represented by Kaido, her uncle) uses all his might to hold the lease tight by fostering fear in the minds of people through false gender narratives.
What was brilliant about the novel is how the author has brilliantly broken the mould of the stereotypical gender roles. While Heer is a fierce warrior, Ranjha is a lover of art and music, while Heer is a provider in the relationship, Ranjha is a nurturer.
he author has also brilliantly touched upon fragile masculinity. In the beginning, we see Ranjha as this simple guy who while does not care about society dictated roles of what a man should do he still has a fragile sense of masculinity where he ridicules someone for thinking he would marry her considering he is good looking while she is not. The manner in which Ranjha speaks at the beginning gives us a sneak peek as to how masculinity and patriarchy has conditioned him albeit in a milder way but it is there. However, with time we see Ranjha undergoing an unlearning after he meets Heer and Heer in an unrelenting way lays down the bare how women though the half and equal gender in the world how they are subjugated and how craftily this is done and towards the end we see a change in Ranjha.
The book while has all great ingredients of romance, the pangs of separation and you praying for the lovers to unite, the author offers much more through this novel. At the utmost she makes you realise how women have been deprived and the inequality that they are subjected to from time immemorial and how when winds of change start blowing it rattles the ones like Kaido enjoying power which is not rightly theirs and they then wage traps and dirty tactics to restore and stop the wind at all cost.
Thanks to JCB Prize for literature that I discovered this brilliant book and devoured it in one night. On the periphery In search of Heer is a story of unrelenting love which is almost spiritual in nature and yet has to fight against the restraints of society and familial pressure. However, I feel the layers which the author has added to this historical retelling makes this a much broader tale of freedom and the tryst for it. It showcases how each human being irrespective of gender when starts to behave as truly free unbound by the dictates of society there is fierce resistance to quash their soul. A retelling of Waris Shah's poem on Heer Ranjha and Damodar Gulati's version the author through her rich imagination has almost made it contemporary where we can still relate to the events. Based on the epic historical story of Heer Syal and Deedho Ranjha and their love in Western Punjab (now Pakistan) the story is narrated by multiple narrator's where only Heer and Ranjha are the human narrator's the other narrator's being a crow, pigeon, goat and camel. With poetic prose and a non-human narration one gets a brilliant commentary on humans and how we might be one of the most destructive and greedy and darkest species in the creation. This unadulterated observation of birds and animals on the follies of humans gives you an overview which while it makes you uncomfortable you will nod your head in agreement. Here is a feminist who shakes the clutches of patriarchy in her family and society and we see how patriarchy ( represented by Kaido, her uncle) uses all his might to hold the lease tight by fostering fear in the minds of people through false gender narratives.
What was brilliant about the novel is how the author has brilliantly broken the mould of the stereotypical gender roles. While Heer is a fierce warrior, Ranjha is a lover of art and music, while Heer is a provider in the relationship, Ranjha is a nurturer.
he author has also brilliantly touched upon fragile masculinity. In the beginning, we see Ranjha as this simple guy who while does not care about society dictated roles of what a man should do he still has a fragile sense of masculinity where he ridicules someone for thinking he would marry her considering he is good looking while she is not. The manner in which Ranjha speaks at the beginning gives us a sneak peek as to how masculinity and patriarchy has conditioned him albeit in a milder way but it is there. However, with time we see Ranjha undergoing an unlearning after he meets Heer and Heer in an unrelenting way lays down the bare how women though the half and equal gender in the world how they are subjugated and how craftily this is done and towards the end we see a change in Ranjha.
The book while has all great ingredients of romance, the pangs of separation and you praying for the lovers to unite, the author offers much more through this novel. At the utmost she makes you realise how women have been deprived and the inequality that they are subjected to from time immemorial and how when winds of change start blowing it rattles the ones like Kaido enjoying power which is not rightly theirs and they then wage traps and dirty tactics to restore and stop the wind at all cost.
March 29, 2020
This book is a poetic and dreamy retelling of the Heer Ranjha tale we might have heard at some point in our lives.
One of the ways that a work of art teaches us is by mirroring us to show who we are and what we could be, if we just had courage and tried hard to achieve the things that we wanted. In crafting each character in In Search of Heer and associating their joys, struggles, failings to them, and making it blend seamlessly with the story, Manjul’s deft writing skills shine through. As a reader, I seek both familiarity that gives way to uncertainties when I am least expecting it to, the effects of which linger for quite sometime afterward, making me think long and hard about what I have read. I found myself highlighting certain sentences, entire passages even so that I could come back to them and read them again, and in the process to try to discover a point of view which I might not have thought of earlier. I think great writing has that effect, and this book is a testament to that.
Throughout the book, we also encounter animals who have lives of their own and their lives intersect with those of the humans in quite interesting ways. To assign each animal their unique personalities and make it seem relatable as if they were human themselves is storytelling at its most compelling, and the book achieves that effortlessly.
When I was reading the book, a word that kept popping up was “relevant” alluding to the relevance of the book to our times, dealing with the themes of homosexuality, molestation, non-conformity to societal norms to name a few. More than anything, it encourages us to talk about those themes unabashedly, without always having to sweep them under the rug.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to read a finely crafted take on the Heer Ranjha narrative, and really to understand how compelling storytelling works. You might learn a thing or two, if not more, like I did.
One of the ways that a work of art teaches us is by mirroring us to show who we are and what we could be, if we just had courage and tried hard to achieve the things that we wanted. In crafting each character in In Search of Heer and associating their joys, struggles, failings to them, and making it blend seamlessly with the story, Manjul’s deft writing skills shine through. As a reader, I seek both familiarity that gives way to uncertainties when I am least expecting it to, the effects of which linger for quite sometime afterward, making me think long and hard about what I have read. I found myself highlighting certain sentences, entire passages even so that I could come back to them and read them again, and in the process to try to discover a point of view which I might not have thought of earlier. I think great writing has that effect, and this book is a testament to that.
Throughout the book, we also encounter animals who have lives of their own and their lives intersect with those of the humans in quite interesting ways. To assign each animal their unique personalities and make it seem relatable as if they were human themselves is storytelling at its most compelling, and the book achieves that effortlessly.
When I was reading the book, a word that kept popping up was “relevant” alluding to the relevance of the book to our times, dealing with the themes of homosexuality, molestation, non-conformity to societal norms to name a few. More than anything, it encourages us to talk about those themes unabashedly, without always having to sweep them under the rug.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to read a finely crafted take on the Heer Ranjha narrative, and really to understand how compelling storytelling works. You might learn a thing or two, if not more, like I did.
December 17, 2020
I had to DNF this book, I really couldn't finish it. Things I hated:
1. The book is marketed as a feminist retelling of a folk tale, but it is filled with gender stereotypes, like Ranjha's comments on his sisters in law or the trite stereotypes of the permissive and understanding father vs mother who won't accept the rebel daughter for who she is. Ugh!
2. Description of people with disfigurement/disabilities. Can't people with disabilities get a break?? Why perpetuating the stigma and associating people with disfigurement with evil? Why?? The way in which disability is talked about in this book is really disturbing.
I can't believe that this book was longlisted for a literary prize!
1. The book is marketed as a feminist retelling of a folk tale, but it is filled with gender stereotypes, like Ranjha's comments on his sisters in law or the trite stereotypes of the permissive and understanding father vs mother who won't accept the rebel daughter for who she is. Ugh!
2. Description of people with disfigurement/disabilities. Can't people with disabilities get a break?? Why perpetuating the stigma and associating people with disfigurement with evil? Why?? The way in which disability is talked about in this book is really disturbing.
I can't believe that this book was longlisted for a literary prize!
April 22, 2022
“Gossip is society’s watchman, wall and whip all at once. Tale by malicious tale, rumour by rumour, the wall of society’s narrow morality is erected. Inside it is the cosy warmth of belonging. Outside, it is brutally cold and lonely.”
People love gossip, isn't it. Whether it is about two quarrelling women, or the household matter of someone, or the action of girl in the neighborhood, or a young romancing couple. They see and understand very little, talk strongly as if it is a rock and spread it in the society as if it is a mountain. And I guess most of the folk tales crashes came so soon just because of these gossips.
This Book, 'In Search of Heer' by Manjul Bajaj is the retelling of the most beloved folktale of the Punjab, Heer-Ranjha.
Ranjha, youngest and favorite child in the family, who had to left his village Takht Hazara, knowing that his own brothers cheated him for the land after his father's death.
Ranjha left the town with his only companion music to find his destiny. And soon he crosses his path with Heer, the brave and beautiful daughter of Syal. Heer is a warrior against all the social injustice. Her match was already fixed with Saida Khera at the time of her birth. But love has no boundaries so despite of this fact Heer and Ranjha fall for each other.
This love is not simple. With this society, it's customs and it's cunning people all around, their love story has to with several impediments.
Overall the book maintains a poetic rhythm. It depicts strong feminists characteristics from Heer's character. And above of all, you will see many other little creature's participation in this story also, the pigeons, a crow, and a goat.
p.s. - Before reading this book, the end I know of this folktale is very tragic, but I love the different end written by Manjual Bajaj. Beautifully Portrayed. But yeah, the lust portrayed in the eyes when Ranjha meets Heer for the first time is really I never thought of and at first it disturbed the image of Ranjha I have but after a while I guess It became okay to me.
People love gossip, isn't it. Whether it is about two quarrelling women, or the household matter of someone, or the action of girl in the neighborhood, or a young romancing couple. They see and understand very little, talk strongly as if it is a rock and spread it in the society as if it is a mountain. And I guess most of the folk tales crashes came so soon just because of these gossips.
This Book, 'In Search of Heer' by Manjul Bajaj is the retelling of the most beloved folktale of the Punjab, Heer-Ranjha.
Ranjha, youngest and favorite child in the family, who had to left his village Takht Hazara, knowing that his own brothers cheated him for the land after his father's death.
Ranjha left the town with his only companion music to find his destiny. And soon he crosses his path with Heer, the brave and beautiful daughter of Syal. Heer is a warrior against all the social injustice. Her match was already fixed with Saida Khera at the time of her birth. But love has no boundaries so despite of this fact Heer and Ranjha fall for each other.
This love is not simple. With this society, it's customs and it's cunning people all around, their love story has to with several impediments.
Overall the book maintains a poetic rhythm. It depicts strong feminists characteristics from Heer's character. And above of all, you will see many other little creature's participation in this story also, the pigeons, a crow, and a goat.
p.s. - Before reading this book, the end I know of this folktale is very tragic, but I love the different end written by Manjual Bajaj. Beautifully Portrayed. But yeah, the lust portrayed in the eyes when Ranjha meets Heer for the first time is really I never thought of and at first it disturbed the image of Ranjha I have but after a while I guess It became okay to me.
September 23, 2020
You see certain books are hard to rate along the traditional lines of scores and stars for they are like lyrics of music and every time you read it, a different meaning comes up. Living on the other side of the land I am not aware of the tales of Heer Ranjha and Laila Majnu. Their fierce yet tragic love stories came to me in bits and pieces through different retellings and ballads. Here is one such story of heroic love that attempts to break social norms. Moving against the wind is always a difficult journey I guess no matter what era you belong to. Society hates anyone revolting against it. As the manliness of man lies in his materialistic nature, physical tolerance to hard labor and femininity is best suited when it is covered and preserved, anyone going to break the norm is sure enough to bear the burns. The slow seeping nature of Manjul Bajaj's writing style tells a tale where heroes travel in a path meant to be doomed. Here in this fairy tale love story, a happy ending isn’t written. They succumb under the social bondages yet remain immortal. Showcasing that the ultimate sacrifice in love is salvation. I am still reading this book and letting my emotions all loose and absorb every bit of the feelings of these devoted lovers.
Amidst all the chaos in life, I'm seeking my refuge in this beautiful historical piece of fiction
Amidst all the chaos in life, I'm seeking my refuge in this beautiful historical piece of fiction
October 29, 2020
I have been putting this book off for some time because of the sacredness I held for the epic. We know the story through some of the best retellings, so what could it offer? I think it was both brave and trite to attempt another retelling of the epic. And most definitely, that stands true after I have read the book. Though now I think that it has been a successful enterprise. It was astonishing for me how the book could be both so rustic and true to its context and modern at the same time. Her own interpolations do not seem like corruption; they rather blend perfectly in the story. It is the empathy employed in devising the characters that stood out for me. Most importantly, her reimagining of the end is completely different. I felt a little unconvinced of the end, given the galaxy of love stories in which Heer-Ranjha is placed. Like re-reading any other epic of the sub-continent, it inspired many other insights that I had not earlier thought of. For example, the demilitarised struggle of Ranjha is so endearing and the same is true of the portrait of Seida Khera. As I was reading the book, the musical verses reverberated in my head. I did not try to silence those voices but rather made them a reading aid. I think it has definitely made a place for itself in the tradition of Heer.
April 22, 2020
I grew up in the Middle East with no one around to regale with me the rich folk tales of our land. Since Amar Chitra Katha is yet to come out with a title on Heer and Ranjha, this story was unfamiliar to me. Until now.
Manjul Bajaj has a way with words. Her ploy of partly narrating the story using animals and birds worked pretty well. With her writing, I could also imagine the terrain and milieu in which the story unfolded. However, I feel this would have been a more powerful work had it been a novella. The final quarter of the book was a bit too Bollywoodish for my taste but that could be me.
Do pick this up if you want to immerse yourself in the life and times of Heer and Ranjha.
Manjul Bajaj has a way with words. Her ploy of partly narrating the story using animals and birds worked pretty well. With her writing, I could also imagine the terrain and milieu in which the story unfolded. However, I feel this would have been a more powerful work had it been a novella. The final quarter of the book was a bit too Bollywoodish for my taste but that could be me.
Do pick this up if you want to immerse yourself in the life and times of Heer and Ranjha.
June 10, 2021
This is one of the books for which you want to write a long, well-worded review that as beautiful as the book itself. But no matter what I write, it's not going to do justice to what I think of the book or what a wonderful read it was for me.
Right from the narrative (told from multiple perspectives, including a crow!) to the beautiful language to themes and human vices it explores, and how each of those vices or values drives people to behave in certain ways.
The one thing I absolutely loved about this book is its ability to question the popular version, and in doing that, it leaves a question on the reader's mind. One that Heer asks too. 'What's the truth?'
The other thing I absolutely loved was that the book doesn't end when the story does. Just when I craved for a little more after reading what I thought was the end, I discovered there was a teeny bit more. And that just added to my reading experience.
Right from the narrative (told from multiple perspectives, including a crow!) to the beautiful language to themes and human vices it explores, and how each of those vices or values drives people to behave in certain ways.
The one thing I absolutely loved about this book is its ability to question the popular version, and in doing that, it leaves a question on the reader's mind. One that Heer asks too. 'What's the truth?'
The other thing I absolutely loved was that the book doesn't end when the story does. Just when I craved for a little more after reading what I thought was the end, I discovered there was a teeny bit more. And that just added to my reading experience.
September 12, 2020
This is perhaps one of my most favourite books of 2020! I absolutely loved the Heer-Ranjha Retelling! The story-line and the writing is so beautiful. The concept of animals telling their perspective and their version of the story has me in absolute awe :D I am going to read all other books by Manjul Bajaj very soon !
March 23, 2021
A riveting retelling of Heer-Ranjha’s love story. Manjul Bajaj’s detailing of each character is elaborate and a delight to read. Loved the style of narration - would absolutely recommend it for her writing.
Read
May 21, 2021Beautiful retelling
Liked the link between man and woman, humans and animals..the whole story is totally engaging. It has so many layers.
Liked the link between man and woman, humans and animals..the whole story is totally engaging. It has so many layers.
Read
March 7, 2020Lushly packed with evocative descriptions of young men and old, of nubile girls and timorous old women, of men with evil on their mind, a swiftly flowing river, cattle both fine and scrawny, thoroughbred horses, crows, pigeons, camels, the sweetest goat ever, In Search of Heer is an old love story told afresh variously through the voices of her lover, a sympathetic crow/ pigeon/ goat/camel. The relationships are exquisitely drawn, be it the combustible passion of the two lovers; Ranjha and his deceptively friendly sister- in- law; Heer and her once loving, now despairing mother; the venal Kaido Langra and the little girls he preys upon; Ranjha and his companion for a time, the goat; Heer`s sister-in-law Sehti and her secret sweetheart, Murad.
Stories packed into one story, flowing seamlessly, relentlessly on.
Referencing mainly Waris Shah`s poetic rendition of Heer`s story, Bajaj layers it with contemporary pertinence. Heer is undoubtedly a feminist, a fiery feminist at that. Ranjha is no foolhardy desperate lover here, he`s a sensitive, deeply caring one. Heer`s paedophile uncle is an unforgettable character in this book; the reader winces and keeps wincing but cannot stop reading about Kaido Langra as he becomes the village`s conscience-keeper in a successful attempt to conceal his dire doings.
Carnal passions, a violent falling in love, a spiritual quest, a woman who knows her mind, men and women forced into marriages of convenience, the tightening of orthodox bands on a hitherto innocent peoples. This is an absolutely compelling recount of the tragic romance between Deedho Ranjha and Heer Syal.
Stories packed into one story, flowing seamlessly, relentlessly on.
Referencing mainly Waris Shah`s poetic rendition of Heer`s story, Bajaj layers it with contemporary pertinence. Heer is undoubtedly a feminist, a fiery feminist at that. Ranjha is no foolhardy desperate lover here, he`s a sensitive, deeply caring one. Heer`s paedophile uncle is an unforgettable character in this book; the reader winces and keeps wincing but cannot stop reading about Kaido Langra as he becomes the village`s conscience-keeper in a successful attempt to conceal his dire doings.
Carnal passions, a violent falling in love, a spiritual quest, a woman who knows her mind, men and women forced into marriages of convenience, the tightening of orthodox bands on a hitherto innocent peoples. This is an absolutely compelling recount of the tragic romance between Deedho Ranjha and Heer Syal.
November 11, 2019
In a modern re-telling of an ancient story, first told by Damodar Gulati in the 16th century, author Manjul Bajaj, joins the many versions of the same story told over the years, by many authors and poets. However, this time, the distinctive pen which is the author’s mark, is written in the 21st century with an engaging, often, addictive method of narration. Having done this, Manjul Bajaj joins an illustrious group of writers and poets, filmmakers who have written on the same theme, Heer and Ranjha.
In Search of Heer is a simple tale, starting with the love story of Heer, the beautiful daughter of Mihir Chuchak, a rich landlord of Jhang Syal , and Ranjha, the spoilt and handsome son of an affluent landlord in village Takht Hazara, who are destined to meet and fall in love and marry with the support of Heer’s father, in somewhat of a concealed manner, unlike a big, fat Punjabi wedding, with relatives, from far and near thrown in. The secret is found out by Heer’s paternal uncle, Kaidu Langra, and all hell breaks out as he connives with Heer’s mother, and weds her off to Saida, of the Khera clan, equally, wealthy. But the reader must find out what happens to Heer in this marriage.
In the meantime, Ranjha has realized that he has lost Heer, and must now find the balm to his broken heart by embracing the spiritual path. A flutist, whose music has a soul, Ranjha is well nigh liberation but is again pulled back by the appearance of a crow, which reveals to him, that Heer is waiting for him and so he must waste no time but proceed immediately to where Heer is. Ranjha leaves with his flute totally naked of any other desire but to find his Heer.
In a strange twist of events, Heer finds a friend in her marital home, who is her sister in law, with no less a hidden love story in her heart and the reader is allowed a peep into what might happen next. Breathe easy. You are about to commence into another rough ride with many twists and turns.
This said, In Search of Heer, is much more than just a story re-told. There are many lessons to learn from the many voices that narrate the story – crows, pigeons, goat and each is has a unique voice, I most loved to engage with. A humungous amount of research has gone into telling the reader more about each of these animals and birds so that the reader is enriched in many other ways, understanding the nature of these creatures. Research has also gone into the life of an ascetic and someone in search of a spiritual life, which gives solace.
However, for me, the most endearing parts were the role of Heer as a feminist icon. She exudes courage, valour, willfulness, and is stubborn and outspoken, uncompromising. Yet, vulnerable and receptive to love and longing. Her questions are relevant to our times, and many of us can hear our own voice in her words.
No less enchanting was the spiritual side of the book, without being religious. It calls the reader to conclude that there are no short cuts from sex to super-consciousness, except by actually living it. And the way out is through. The symbolic crow is the id in Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis as it were. Love lived in totality may well be the eternal transcendence we seek as humans.
The book is a living testimony of a skillful hand at work and an astute intellect that can gather the story from many quarters and reproduce a new version which appeals to the modern, 21st century reader and their understanding and engagement with love in its many facets.
In Search of Heer is a simple tale, starting with the love story of Heer, the beautiful daughter of Mihir Chuchak, a rich landlord of Jhang Syal , and Ranjha, the spoilt and handsome son of an affluent landlord in village Takht Hazara, who are destined to meet and fall in love and marry with the support of Heer’s father, in somewhat of a concealed manner, unlike a big, fat Punjabi wedding, with relatives, from far and near thrown in. The secret is found out by Heer’s paternal uncle, Kaidu Langra, and all hell breaks out as he connives with Heer’s mother, and weds her off to Saida, of the Khera clan, equally, wealthy. But the reader must find out what happens to Heer in this marriage.
In the meantime, Ranjha has realized that he has lost Heer, and must now find the balm to his broken heart by embracing the spiritual path. A flutist, whose music has a soul, Ranjha is well nigh liberation but is again pulled back by the appearance of a crow, which reveals to him, that Heer is waiting for him and so he must waste no time but proceed immediately to where Heer is. Ranjha leaves with his flute totally naked of any other desire but to find his Heer.
In a strange twist of events, Heer finds a friend in her marital home, who is her sister in law, with no less a hidden love story in her heart and the reader is allowed a peep into what might happen next. Breathe easy. You are about to commence into another rough ride with many twists and turns.
This said, In Search of Heer, is much more than just a story re-told. There are many lessons to learn from the many voices that narrate the story – crows, pigeons, goat and each is has a unique voice, I most loved to engage with. A humungous amount of research has gone into telling the reader more about each of these animals and birds so that the reader is enriched in many other ways, understanding the nature of these creatures. Research has also gone into the life of an ascetic and someone in search of a spiritual life, which gives solace.
However, for me, the most endearing parts were the role of Heer as a feminist icon. She exudes courage, valour, willfulness, and is stubborn and outspoken, uncompromising. Yet, vulnerable and receptive to love and longing. Her questions are relevant to our times, and many of us can hear our own voice in her words.
No less enchanting was the spiritual side of the book, without being religious. It calls the reader to conclude that there are no short cuts from sex to super-consciousness, except by actually living it. And the way out is through. The symbolic crow is the id in Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis as it were. Love lived in totality may well be the eternal transcendence we seek as humans.
The book is a living testimony of a skillful hand at work and an astute intellect that can gather the story from many quarters and reproduce a new version which appeals to the modern, 21st century reader and their understanding and engagement with love in its many facets.
November 22, 2019
Following the rich tapestry of stories woven around desire, culminating in the magnificently seething title story of Another Man's Wife, Manjul Bajaj turns her gaze this time around to the legend of Heer and Ranjha. It’s a tale that has been around for the better part of five odd centuries, embedded in the Punjab consciousness, and over time in neighbouring regions too. A narrative that has been remembered and recited over the ages, written and rewritten, passed down through music and banter and film and drama, like one of those eternal love poems.
Taking on the challenge of narrating this oft told tale for today’s reader, here is a book sparkling in its lucidity and modern in its sensibilities. The same story, and yet a different story.
The main characters have contemporary voices, but live five centuries ago, amidst all the customs and expectations of the time. Heer is the legendary beauty for miles around. Born into a wealthy family, fiery and passionate about her rights, she does not desire any lord and master. In Ranjha she finds her other half, a gentle, compassionate man, blessed by good looks and some vanity, but someone who has forsaken family wealth and property and power, in search of the love of his life and wants to do nothing more than play enchanting music on his flute.
Different voices narrate the tale in different chapters -- Ranjha for the most part, but also others, and not all of them human either – crows, pigeons, goats are also engaged observers of these star crossed lovers, lending a lovely freshness of perspective.
The writing flows gentle and compassionate for the most part, like a soothing breeze, but with all manner of vivid detail etched in. Nuggets of wisdom sprinkle like gold dust, some here some there, embellishing the richness of the narrative. And then there are those crescendos and mini symphonies, as words ebb and flow with the effervescence of a mountain spring, as when Ranjha plays the flute, as when the lovers quench their desire for each other. But it is not all love and sunshine writing. Passages of age old human depravities are described with such chilling simplicity that it simply takes your breath away.
This is not an unputdownable book. Sometimes you put the book down to savour it, like fine wine, and sometimes the book puts itself down as you catch your breath. A sign of a very well written piece in my reckoning.
Taking on the challenge of narrating this oft told tale for today’s reader, here is a book sparkling in its lucidity and modern in its sensibilities. The same story, and yet a different story.
The main characters have contemporary voices, but live five centuries ago, amidst all the customs and expectations of the time. Heer is the legendary beauty for miles around. Born into a wealthy family, fiery and passionate about her rights, she does not desire any lord and master. In Ranjha she finds her other half, a gentle, compassionate man, blessed by good looks and some vanity, but someone who has forsaken family wealth and property and power, in search of the love of his life and wants to do nothing more than play enchanting music on his flute.
Different voices narrate the tale in different chapters -- Ranjha for the most part, but also others, and not all of them human either – crows, pigeons, goats are also engaged observers of these star crossed lovers, lending a lovely freshness of perspective.
The writing flows gentle and compassionate for the most part, like a soothing breeze, but with all manner of vivid detail etched in. Nuggets of wisdom sprinkle like gold dust, some here some there, embellishing the richness of the narrative. And then there are those crescendos and mini symphonies, as words ebb and flow with the effervescence of a mountain spring, as when Ranjha plays the flute, as when the lovers quench their desire for each other. But it is not all love and sunshine writing. Passages of age old human depravities are described with such chilling simplicity that it simply takes your breath away.
This is not an unputdownable book. Sometimes you put the book down to savour it, like fine wine, and sometimes the book puts itself down as you catch your breath. A sign of a very well written piece in my reckoning.
September 22, 2020
Spoiler Alert
Book review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In search of Heer by Manjul Bajaj. Set in 16th century Punjab, undivided India, it’s a progressive, modern retelling of the timeless tragic love story of Heer and Ranjha.
Heer Syal is a strong, assertive, empathetic warrior woman who challenges the restraints on women. Ranjha is a serene, gentle, humorous flute player, who renounces the ways of the world. It’s a feminist narrative that continually questions the trials and tribulations of women, the power and diktat of some men, the ethics of piety, and the value of social constructs. I especially loved the fact that Manjul Bajaj’s characters redefined stereotypical gender roles and the strong female characters supported each other, rather than submitting to patriarchy. It’s a story of love and longing, of sexual freedom and identity, of the constraints of class and gender, of abuse and exploitation, of good and evil.
Manjul Bajaj’s writing is lyrical, poetic and entertaining, scattered with pearls of worldly wisdom. The imagery is detailed, although sometimes a bit stretched. Interestingly, her story takes into account the points of view of non-human narrators: the crow, pigeons and goat, which plays out like a dark satire on humankind and its ways.
I never give away spoilers, but the essence of this narrative is in its ending and the message it conveys. Usually, tales of lovers rebelling against conventional social norms have a tragic end, which is invariably interpreted as a punishment by God for not conforming to those norms. Manjul Bajaj in her version does away with the tragic end in favour of the happily-ever-after, the triumph of love, the acceptance of those who dare to love in the face of all adversities.
The author has made Heer and Ranjha, and their love eternal by giving this age old fable a new life, and stopping it from becoming an outdated, discriminatory text.
Book review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In search of Heer by Manjul Bajaj. Set in 16th century Punjab, undivided India, it’s a progressive, modern retelling of the timeless tragic love story of Heer and Ranjha.
Heer Syal is a strong, assertive, empathetic warrior woman who challenges the restraints on women. Ranjha is a serene, gentle, humorous flute player, who renounces the ways of the world. It’s a feminist narrative that continually questions the trials and tribulations of women, the power and diktat of some men, the ethics of piety, and the value of social constructs. I especially loved the fact that Manjul Bajaj’s characters redefined stereotypical gender roles and the strong female characters supported each other, rather than submitting to patriarchy. It’s a story of love and longing, of sexual freedom and identity, of the constraints of class and gender, of abuse and exploitation, of good and evil.
Manjul Bajaj’s writing is lyrical, poetic and entertaining, scattered with pearls of worldly wisdom. The imagery is detailed, although sometimes a bit stretched. Interestingly, her story takes into account the points of view of non-human narrators: the crow, pigeons and goat, which plays out like a dark satire on humankind and its ways.
I never give away spoilers, but the essence of this narrative is in its ending and the message it conveys. Usually, tales of lovers rebelling against conventional social norms have a tragic end, which is invariably interpreted as a punishment by God for not conforming to those norms. Manjul Bajaj in her version does away with the tragic end in favour of the happily-ever-after, the triumph of love, the acceptance of those who dare to love in the face of all adversities.
The author has made Heer and Ranjha, and their love eternal by giving this age old fable a new life, and stopping it from becoming an outdated, discriminatory text.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2020
I have heard and read the stories of Heer Ranjha, Sassi Punnu, Soni Mahiwal, Romeo Juliet etc. several times in my lifetime. I never particularly liked them.
It always made me question why all the love stories that ended in death achieved greatness. They were not examples that spoke of a forever kind of love to me.
Why did the young lovers never play smart, run away to be together? Why is death the ultimate sacrifice to prove that you love someone?
Understandably I was hesitant to pick up this book because I really liked the author having met her in person. The story is essentially the same, but the end is more in line with my mindset. I turned the last page satisfied.
I read the book slowly, enjoying the journey that the author took me on with her finger placed firmly on the pulse of our society. The extensive research shines through without becoming arduous or hampering the flow of the story.
It is a visual book so be ready to be moved. I loved the pov’s of the birds.
To say I am happy I read it is an understatement. This book needs to be read because the questions the author raises are pertinent and stay with the reader long after the story ends.
Pick up this book now; it is beautiful.
August 14, 2021
In Search of Heer by Manjul Bajaj is essentially a re-telling of the love story of Heer-Ranjha. A re-telling usually entails the construction of an already existing story by focusing on underlying themes through modern criticism, without disrupting its most prominent elements.
.
Hence, there is very little room for reconstructing characters or plot details, unless one wants to alter the very spine of the story. The main story has been carefully researched as cited in the bibliography. Any new details focus on the character motivations and the underlying themes, but i think i have mentioned that... And, that is my main issue with the book. The book brings a lot of feminist perspective with the retelling of various female characters, the male gaze, the apathy of a patriarchal society, but I felt like ending in circles like the conversations in the book on these issues, which is my other sore point with the book. Conversations, though necessary for understanding character and constructing plot, can becomes a great deadener if done too frequently.
.
With the focus on maintaining authenticity, there in not enough to bring a lot to this tale that has not been said so far. Its still a great effort, but compared to other books in the longlist, it leaves one longing for more...
.
Hence, there is very little room for reconstructing characters or plot details, unless one wants to alter the very spine of the story. The main story has been carefully researched as cited in the bibliography. Any new details focus on the character motivations and the underlying themes, but i think i have mentioned that... And, that is my main issue with the book. The book brings a lot of feminist perspective with the retelling of various female characters, the male gaze, the apathy of a patriarchal society, but I felt like ending in circles like the conversations in the book on these issues, which is my other sore point with the book. Conversations, though necessary for understanding character and constructing plot, can becomes a great deadener if done too frequently.
.
With the focus on maintaining authenticity, there in not enough to bring a lot to this tale that has not been said so far. Its still a great effort, but compared to other books in the longlist, it leaves one longing for more...
December 4, 2019
'In Search of Heer' re-tells the legendary Heer-Ranjha love story in a fresh way with a few twists. And it works! There are three areas where Bajaj scores big. First, she does a fantastic job with the world building. She transports you to the rural Punjab of the Mughal Era and holds you there. The rich details (that must have involved a lot of research) have the desired impact of keeping the reader rooted in Jhang Syal. Second, the characterization is superb. Each character is distinct and leaves an impression: the brave and volatile Heer, the vain and taciturn Ranjha, the conniving Kaido. She does a particularly good job with the minor characters - Heer's Mother-in-law and Sehti for example. Third, it's the writing. Part lyrical-part insightful, the writing is consistently good and its here that Bajaj outdoes herself. The reader gets lost in the poetry of Ranjha's journey in search of Heer and then there are quotable quotes and insightful writing when Heer interacts with her mother and sister in law. Another bit that worked for me was Bajaj's commentary on the religious extremism and double standards that seem timeless. An enjoyable read indeed!
October 4, 2019
Beautifully written book. Loved it to bits. Exceptionally well written tale. And written such that the known story gets more known, closer such that you know the characters as your own kin.
Totally recommend that you pick this up and get to know these eternal lovers in a deeper, spiritual at the same time concrete way - how were they made, who were the people who made them, what circumstance, what did they think, what did they fear and when and how did they connect.
All so lyrically captured.
I think I'll read it once more, now!
Totally recommend that you pick this up and get to know these eternal lovers in a deeper, spiritual at the same time concrete way - how were they made, who were the people who made them, what circumstance, what did they think, what did they fear and when and how did they connect.
All so lyrically captured.
I think I'll read it once more, now!
October 27, 2019
A compelling tale, beautifully told. One of the best novels in English from India published this year. Don't miss this one.
July 3, 2024
A beautiful retelling of the popular love story of Punjab https://www.anuradhagoyal.com/in-sear...
August 10, 2020
In Search Of Heer, by Manjul Bajaj, is an excellent re-telling of the Panjabi tragic-romance of Heer-Ranjha, first attributed to Damodhar Gulati in the seventeenth century and later other poets including the famous Waris Shah in 1766. As with all good re-tellings, Bajaj not only brings alive the story of love, betrayal and loss framed by patriarchy and feudalism, she infuses new life into it by experimenting with points of views, gender norms, and even the ending. (Manjul is a writer and poet based in Gurgaon. She moved from developmental economics into full time writing and is famous for her earlier novel Come, Before Evening Falls and short story collection Another Man’s Wife.)
The basic legend is well known: After Ranjha’s father passes away, he is cheated of his inheritance by his brothers and he walks out of home. After an arduous forest travel he reaches the Chenab riverbank and gets on to the boat to Heer’s village. He meets Heer and confesses his love. She takes him to her father Mir Chuchak who employs him as in-charge of his cattle. Heer and Ranjha marry in a cave with the blessings of Panj Pir. Heer’s uncle Kaido poses problems. While Chuchak is away, with the help of the Qazi, Kaido conspires to get Heer married to Seida to who she was betrothed at birth. Ranjha follows her but loses his way and goes on to become an ascetic. The endings vary from version to version. One says, Kaido poisons them. Another says, the lovers escape. What we have after nearly three hundred years after the supposed story played out is a tomb to Heer Ranjha at Jhang.
The 293-page book opens with that map of the greater Panjab before it was lacerated by the Radcliffe Line into modern nation states. Today, the locations of the story - Takht Hazara from where Ranjha hails, Jhang from where Heer from the Syal tribe hails, Rangpur where Heer is wrongly married, Tilla Jogian where Ranjha goes when he loses Heer - are all in what is today Pakistan. Yet, we from Panjab, from north India, still quiver upon the hearing of the story. It indeed needs guts to tell the story in English, in a modern idiom, with a modern politics, and Manjul does very well here.
Manjul tells the story in ten parts, thirty chapters and employs six points of view including the crow, the pigeon, and the goat. My favourite is Part IV for its stunning narration of high achievements of humankind that ends in extreme depravity - child sexual abuse. Through the book there is no point where a reader feels deprived of information on the characters or events of the story.
Considering that the original Heer-Ranjha is a ballad, the music from Ranjha's flute plays a major role in the story. It charms not only Heer, even her father Mir Chuchak, the beasts of the jungle, the cattle and the Jogis. Manjul evokes this music through her language - whether she describes nature, landscapes, emotions, characters or provides history or deliberates on reality. The language evocative of values, like the notes from Ranjha’s flute. Page 67 … The difference between a hero and a bandit lies not in how well each wields a sword, but in the cause to which their weapons are drawn.
As I turned the pages of the book to Part VI, the words that sprang to my lips were from the legend's most popular version by Waris Shah: Doli chad-deyan maariyan Heer cheekan, mainu le chale Babula, le challe ... As the page opened I was struck by how Manjul too had started that part with the same pain: Babul, I left the doors of your house weeping... To me that is a testimony of a great rendering of an ancient and familiar story.
Through the character of Heer, the story is high on women’s rights. At the same time, Manjul is critical of the role women play in aiding patriarchy, whether it is Heer’s mother Malki under the sway of Kaido, or Seida’s mother silently suffering, or the observations made by the crow, the pigeon or Sehti. I loved the different types of masculinity Manjul depicts: Ranjha’s refined dignity and non-violence, Mir Chuchak’s kindness and sense of gender equality, Seida’s diffident homosexuality, his father Shahji Khera’s bad temper and cruelty and finally Kaido’s depravity and cunningness.
In an earlier age writers assigned external deformities to characters with low morals. But that created issues of stereotyping of the genuinely differently-abled people. That is why I feel the depiction of Kaido as a cripple is not fair and could have been avoided. It would have meant Manjul having to ascribe other reasons to Chuchak for tolerating Kaido but she could have played with that as she brilliantly played with gender norms and ending.
ISOH is remarkable for how it opens up the possibilities of where the story goes. Quite like Life of Pi there is a possibility that Adali Raja who captures the fleeing lovers, recognises the merit of their bond over temporal laws and allows them to escape but burns down their prison cells to pretend they died in the accident. That is why a Bactrian camel tells us the lovers went to Persia, Agra and Kerala; their tomb is in Jhang; and this lovely book is in our hands.
The basic legend is well known: After Ranjha’s father passes away, he is cheated of his inheritance by his brothers and he walks out of home. After an arduous forest travel he reaches the Chenab riverbank and gets on to the boat to Heer’s village. He meets Heer and confesses his love. She takes him to her father Mir Chuchak who employs him as in-charge of his cattle. Heer and Ranjha marry in a cave with the blessings of Panj Pir. Heer’s uncle Kaido poses problems. While Chuchak is away, with the help of the Qazi, Kaido conspires to get Heer married to Seida to who she was betrothed at birth. Ranjha follows her but loses his way and goes on to become an ascetic. The endings vary from version to version. One says, Kaido poisons them. Another says, the lovers escape. What we have after nearly three hundred years after the supposed story played out is a tomb to Heer Ranjha at Jhang.
The 293-page book opens with that map of the greater Panjab before it was lacerated by the Radcliffe Line into modern nation states. Today, the locations of the story - Takht Hazara from where Ranjha hails, Jhang from where Heer from the Syal tribe hails, Rangpur where Heer is wrongly married, Tilla Jogian where Ranjha goes when he loses Heer - are all in what is today Pakistan. Yet, we from Panjab, from north India, still quiver upon the hearing of the story. It indeed needs guts to tell the story in English, in a modern idiom, with a modern politics, and Manjul does very well here.
Manjul tells the story in ten parts, thirty chapters and employs six points of view including the crow, the pigeon, and the goat. My favourite is Part IV for its stunning narration of high achievements of humankind that ends in extreme depravity - child sexual abuse. Through the book there is no point where a reader feels deprived of information on the characters or events of the story.
Considering that the original Heer-Ranjha is a ballad, the music from Ranjha's flute plays a major role in the story. It charms not only Heer, even her father Mir Chuchak, the beasts of the jungle, the cattle and the Jogis. Manjul evokes this music through her language - whether she describes nature, landscapes, emotions, characters or provides history or deliberates on reality. The language evocative of values, like the notes from Ranjha’s flute. Page 67 … The difference between a hero and a bandit lies not in how well each wields a sword, but in the cause to which their weapons are drawn.
As I turned the pages of the book to Part VI, the words that sprang to my lips were from the legend's most popular version by Waris Shah: Doli chad-deyan maariyan Heer cheekan, mainu le chale Babula, le challe ... As the page opened I was struck by how Manjul too had started that part with the same pain: Babul, I left the doors of your house weeping... To me that is a testimony of a great rendering of an ancient and familiar story.
Through the character of Heer, the story is high on women’s rights. At the same time, Manjul is critical of the role women play in aiding patriarchy, whether it is Heer’s mother Malki under the sway of Kaido, or Seida’s mother silently suffering, or the observations made by the crow, the pigeon or Sehti. I loved the different types of masculinity Manjul depicts: Ranjha’s refined dignity and non-violence, Mir Chuchak’s kindness and sense of gender equality, Seida’s diffident homosexuality, his father Shahji Khera’s bad temper and cruelty and finally Kaido’s depravity and cunningness.
In an earlier age writers assigned external deformities to characters with low morals. But that created issues of stereotyping of the genuinely differently-abled people. That is why I feel the depiction of Kaido as a cripple is not fair and could have been avoided. It would have meant Manjul having to ascribe other reasons to Chuchak for tolerating Kaido but she could have played with that as she brilliantly played with gender norms and ending.
ISOH is remarkable for how it opens up the possibilities of where the story goes. Quite like Life of Pi there is a possibility that Adali Raja who captures the fleeing lovers, recognises the merit of their bond over temporal laws and allows them to escape but burns down their prison cells to pretend they died in the accident. That is why a Bactrian camel tells us the lovers went to Persia, Agra and Kerala; their tomb is in Jhang; and this lovely book is in our hands.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 83 reviews